CHAPTER 1 DANIEL IS ESTABLISHED AT THE COURT OF BABYLON.
‘In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, came
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to Jerusalem and besieged it.'
Here the dating is based on the Babylonian system of dating by which
the opening part-year after a king's access... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, with
part of the vessels of the house of God. And he carried them into the
land of Shinar to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels
into the treasure house of his god.'
The siege was sufficiently fierce to enable him to persuade... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his palace servants
(officers, nobles, eunuchs), that he should bring in certain of the
children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles, youths
in whom was no blemish, but well favoured and skilful in all wisdom,
endowed with knowledge, and... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's food,
and of the wine that he drank, and that they should be nourished for
three years, that at the end of that period they might stand before
the king.'
The young men were put in the care of Ashpenaz so that they could be
developed int... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now among these men were, of the children of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. And the prince of the palace servaants,
(nobles, chief officers, eunuchs) gave them names, to Daniel he gave
the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah of Shadrach, and to Mishael
of Meshach, and to Azariah of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the king's meat, nor with the wine that he drank, therefore he
requested of the prince of the chief officers that he might not defile
himself.'
What was happening to him clearly came as a shock to Daniel. There was
no knowing ho... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now God made Daniel to be viewed with favour and compassion in the
sight of the prince over the palace servants.'
God was to be seen as present and active in what was happening. It was
He Who won Daniel favour with this great prince.
Notice the use of ‘God' with the article, and not Yahweh (compa... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the prince of the palace servants said to Daniel, “I am
afraid of my lord, the king, who has appointed your food and drink.
For why should he see your faces as worse likeable (more gloomy) than
the youths who are of your own age. In that you would put it on my
head before the king.”
The prince... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the chief
officers had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah
“Put your servants to the test, I pray you, for ten days, and let
them give us vegetables (‘what is sown') to eat and water to drink,
then let our faces be looked at before... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So he took notice of what they said and put them to the test for
ten days. And at the end of ten days their faces appeared fresher, and
they were fatter in the flesh, than all the youths who ate of the
king's food.'
So he did what they asked. The result of the test was that they gave a
better over... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So the steward took away their food, and the wine that they should
drink, and gave them vegetables.'
Having seen the effects of the diet the steward was willing to
continue it. From then on he refrained from giving them the kings'
food and wine, and gave them grain and vegetables with water. (This... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in
all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions
and dreams.'
Not only were their complexions continually clear and full but their
minds were also, for the four grew in wisdom and knowledge. Their
minds were ale... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And at the completion of the days which the king had appointed for
bringing them before him, the prince of the chief officers brought
them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king had discussions with them
and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Misahel and
Azariah. And in every matt... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Daniel continued, even to the first year of Cyrus the Persian.'
The ‘first year of Cyrus the Persian' was an epochal day in the
lives of the children of Israel, ranking possibly with the day of the
giving of the Law at Sinai, for it probably means the year in which he
became king over Babylon,... [ Continue Reading ]